I just remembered having read an interview with the author some time ago and went through my pile of old true crime magazines and found it. The pictures give it a quite eerie notion of the novel.

Wow, I did not expect anything like that of a novel about a computer game, but I ended up reading the almost 500 pages in two days. I could not put it down. The story is definitely fast-paced and I did immerse myself in the story like Nick did with Erebos. Hopefully, the second part will be as good as the first one. ♟️♟️♟️

I withdraw my consent from reality. I deny it my assistance. I dedicate myself to the temptations of escapism, and throw myself wholeheartedly into the endlessness of unreality.

No idea why my ebook is marked as Hercule Poirot mystery. 🧐 It is definitely not one. Language-wise it had been quite challenging for me as non-native English speaker & very interesting as an English teacher because I had to look up many words which I feel broadened my knowledge and horizon. That‘s something that normally does not happen with Poirot. Content-wise it was a 50-50 chance of who is the culprit short after the beginning. Of course I…

This is definitely an easy read/listening, but a very entertaining one. I like the interaction between Edwina and Beryl and Simpkins - that‘s undoubtly a funny triangle. Unfortunately the title gives away too much.

Somewhat over the top, with no explanations whatsoever how the Nancy Drew gang ended up on a cruise, Nancy of course knowing parts of sign language, a METEOR, and a annoying little boy going on everybody‘s nerves. I hope the next one will be better again. 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

Of course she did! Like her father attending a „How to make and defuse a bomb“ workshop. This family does definitely portray a lot of hidden talents. 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

Beryl is the safest bet at the local gambling death pool. 😂😂😂

Another week almost passed - another audiobook finished. While driving I need something light that easy to listen to and I have to say that the murder mysteries by Ellicott are definitely satisfying my requirements. And I like the narrator Barbara Rosenblatt, she has got a somewhat rusty voice, which I image Beryl is having.

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I‘m torn about this one. I really like Gideon, but had huge problems to get into this book. Even though the second person narrative was very interesting, it took me the first 15 chapters and Wikipedia to become less confused. And just after I thought I waswarming up the last few chapters messed it up again. It was too confused for me. And now I am torn whether to pick up Nona or not. 🤔🤔🤔

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This is a short story collection of Agatha Christie - all Hercule Poirot ones. I especially liked the one of Davenheim because I did have such an unexpected twist at the end and I really like the TV version with David Suchet.

I started this one because some of my students decided to read it in class and I wanted to be prepared. It was definitely a new idea to wake in a different body every day. It has been used by the media a lot now. A must be a very lonely person and of course he has to fall in love. I have to admit that the plotline around Pastor Poole seemed a bit half-baked and the end came a bit abruptly. But I am assuming my students won‘t notice that.

This weekend I was finally able to read a little bit more and started this coming off age novel. Some students in my German class are currently reading it for the lessons and I wanted to be prepared.

Finished this 19th century travelogue by famous German poet Theodor Fontane back in Troon. The routes of the tourists in Scotland did not change that much, we did the same one, only the other way round. It was quite interesting to read Fontane‘s descriptions of the countryside abd the different places and compare it to today - especially Edinburgh. I will definitely take it with me again next year when I am going to do second Scotland trip.

I was reading this 19th century travelogue by famous German author Theodor Fontane while travelling Scotland.

Back on my daily commute - what else than cozy murder mystery? I enjoyed this one, especially Beryl‘s entrance into the story. And in contrast to the Agatha Christie murder mysteries I was able to catch some hints and guess the murderer correctly. 💪💪💪

Unfortunately, my ebook doesn‘t seem to have a proper cover, so I copy this one off Amazon. When you look at the cover you expect something completely different - Nancy Drew and the Mystery of the Red Eyes or something. 🤣🤣🤣 Even though it is somewhat misleading, I still like the major plot line because it was interesting.

Did anyone else stumble across the basement recreation room in the Drew‘s house? Or should I say mansion? Villa? Castle? How big is this house? And how big must this room be to have enough space to practice tap dancing? 🏰🏰🏰

Well, this was unexpected. Weird story, but have never heard anything like that before. Especially the colloquial language used. 💪

My last post about Robert Burns. This is the Poet‘s Path in Arroway. Can you guess what‘s in the bottom right picture?

It seems like I caught the flu at the end of my holiday. I am home now, pretty sick. Not even being able to read. 🙈
This is the house Robert Burns was born in Alloway.

Even though I am back now, I will be posting about the last days in Scotland. This is the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum in Alloway.

I wanted to be prepared for today‘s discussion and planned to read the next Nancy Drew on my flight back from Scotland to Switzerland. But guess what, I forgot to download it. 🙈🙈🙈
I will participate tomorrow then.

My bookish Scottish holiday continues… Harry Potter Part IV: Glenfinnan Viaduct - Can you see the Hogwarts Express coming??? 🚂🚂🚂

What a tricky plot, I definitely didn‘t see this end coming. But so didn‘t Poirot - at least for a long time.
While travelling Scotland, I only able to listen to audiobooks so far, even though I brought Scottish literature as well. 🙈

Or in German: Zeigt dem Hund den Knochen? 🤣🤣🤣

My bookish Scottish holiday continues… Harry Potter Part III: The real Hogwarts (University of Glasgow)

My bookish Scottish holiday continues… Harry Potter Part II: Official shop for HP merchandise in Edinburgh

My bookish Scottish holiday continues… Harry Potter Part I: Thomas Riddell‘s grave in Edinburgh

My bookish Scottish holiday continues… The Writers‘ Museum Edinburgh: Robert Burns & Sir Walter Scott & Robert Louis Stevenson

Bookish holiday - Part I
Which one did I get?

When you booked a bookish Bed & Breakfast - Part II 💪💪💪

As I already mentioned - unexpected, flowery language. YAY!!! 🥰🥰🥰

I enjoyed this classic very much. It had been on my reading list for some time now and I wanted to read a easier version with my students, so I dived in. I did not know that the actual part surrounding Gatsby is this short, but I enjoyed the very detailed descriptions of his feelings. Fitzgerald used a very flowery language I didn‘t expect.

When you booked a bookish Bed & Breakfast - Part I 💪💪💪

Trying to read on the plane to Edinburgh. 🙈🙈🙈

Looks very unsteady! 🤣

What an introduction to a novel. 😍

I don‘t know - really. I‘ve only read the graphic novel and I liked it, but it only focussed on the love story. Now I listened to the audiobook and thought the whole story was pretty good. But I ended up pretty annoyed by Winston being whiny and insecure. The Winston actir in the audio play was this good, the whining was almost unbearable. 😳😳😳

Rich men are fished out of River Thames - all of them drowned in weird circumstances and their inheritances go to the same charity… 🧐🧐🧐 Definitely a case for Inspector Holt. I love those old crime mysteries.

I enjoyed the fairytales very much and the comments of Dumbledore have been guite funny sometimes. Especially while talking about the Elder Wand - we know better. 😊

Well, the gothic short story itself was very interesting - with content mistakes (from my point of view of an amateur egyptologist 😜). The „illustrated“ ebook was not. Best example is the stretched cover. 🙈

Illustrated version they said - illustrated version my …. Google picture search for cheap licenseless drawings, I assume!!! 🙄🙄🙄

This is the radio drama version of the German parody of The Ringer by Edgar Wallace. The movie made gun of the weird villains Wallace used and was quite funny. For the radio drama they even the sounds of the movie and gave it a voiceover of the main character. I liked it.

The history of Quidditch itself was quite interesting and funny. Along with the audiobook of the „Hogwarts schoolbook“ came two short stories of Quidditch championships which have been quite boring - like warching or listening the live ticker of any football match.

Reading the background information on Styles. A few weeks ago I bought the new „Poirot“ by Aldrigde only to realize I have an older version of this kind of background info book by Anne Hart already on my bookshelf. 🙈🙈🙈 Okay, this way I can check out the development of the Agatha Christie research from 1990 to 2022. 😜 #offtheshelf

I could not help but hear the voice of Peter Dinklage while I read it. 🙈 Definitely a good start into monthly reading of Poirot novels. I like the way Hastings was introduce with a story that concerne his life.

Poirot - the old matchmaker! 🤣🤣🤣